Folding car-step.



C. E. SHORT.

FOLDING UAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED DE6.'3, 1912.

1,069, 194. Patented Aug. 5, 1913.

w vlmeooao COLUMBIA PLANQIJRAPH KID-.WASHINGTON, 114C CHARLES E. SHORT, OF INVERNESS, FLORIDA.

FOLDING CAR-STEP.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 3, 1912.

Patented Aug. 5,1913. Serial No. 734,741.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, CHARLES E. SHORT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Inverness, in the county of Citrus, State of Florida, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Folding Car-Steps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to folding car steps.

The object of the invention resides in the provision of a structure which includes the usual fixed steps and a folding step arranged at the lower end of said fixed step in such manner that same may be folded neatly and inconspicuously against the fixed bottom step and easily moved to unfolded position through the medium of means operable from the platform of a car.

lVit-h the above and other objects in view the invention consists in the details of construction and in the arrangement and combination of parts to be hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In describing the invention in detail reference will be had to the accompanying drawings wherein like characters of reference denote corresponding parts in the several views, and in which Figure 1 is a side elevation of a flight of steps leading to a car platform and having the improved folding step and operating mechanism for same associated therewith, the folding step being shown in unfolded position. Fig. 2 a view similar to Fig. 1 with the folding step in folded position. Fig. 3 a bottom view of what is shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 4 a detail perspective view of what is shown in Fig. 1 with the foot and rise portions of the lowermost fixed step and the folding step removed and certain other portions of the fixed steps and the supporting platform broken away.

Referring to the drawings 10 indicates the platform of a car and 11 a fixed flight of steps leading therefrom and supported thereby in the usual and well known manner. The lowermost of the fixed flight of steps 11 includes a foot member 12 and a rise member 13. Secured to the foot member 12 of the lowermost fixed step along the outer longitudinal edge thereof is a rod 14. Pivotally connected to each end of the rod 14 is an arm 15 and the free ends of these arms 15 are in turn pivotally connected to a rod 16 disposed parallel to and in spaced relation to the rod 14. Pivotally connected to each end of the rod 16 inwardly of respective arms 15 are arms 17 and the free ends of these arms 17 are in turn pivotally connected to opposite ends of a rod 18. Supported bet-ween the arms 15 and the rods 14 and 16 is the rise member 19 of a folding step, while the foot member 20 of said folding step is supported between the rods 16 and 18 and the arms 17. Pivotally connected to each end of the rod 16 outwardly of respective arms 15 is an arm 21 and the ends of these arms 21 remote from the rod 16 are pivotally connected to the terminals of the rods 22 extending beneath the fixed flight of steps 11. The terminals of the rods 14 and 18 are connected respectively by toggle levers 23 and 24 which are pivotally connected at their adjacent ends by means of a bolt 25. Pivotally connected to each end of the rod 22 is one end of an arm 26, the other end of each of said arms being pivotally connected to the bolt 25 which unites adjacent toggle levers 23 and 24:. Pivotally connected to the rod 16 between the arms 17 is a link 27, while another link 28 is pivotally connected to the rod 22. Corresponding ends of the links 27 and 28 are pivotally connected to a rod 29 positioned beneath the fixed steps 11 adjacent the platform 10. Pivotally mounted upon the platform 10 is an operating lever 30 provided with a spring pawl 31 adapted to engage a toothed segment 32 also carried by the platform 10. The end of the lever 30 beneath the pivot thereof is pivotally connected to the rod 29 between the links 27 and 28.

By the construction previously described it will be apparent that when the lever 30 is swung at its upper end toward the fixed step 11 the links 27 and 28 will draw the rods 16 and 22 toward the platform 10 and this movement of said rod will result in the various parts of the operating mechanism assuming the position shown in Fig. 2 and cause the rise portion 19 to be folded against the under side of the foot member 12 of the lowermost fixed step and the foot portion 20 of the folding step to be positioned against the rise portion 19 thereof. The reverse movement of the lever 30 when the parts of the operating mechanism are disposed in the position shown in Fig. 2 will effect the move ment of the parts of said mechanism and the rise member 19 and foot member 20 of the folding step to the position shown in Fig. 1.

1. In a folding car step the combination of a platform, a fixed flight of steps leading therefrom. a folding step disposed at the lower end of said fixed flight of steps having its rise and foot members pivotally conneoted to each other and its rise member pivotally connected to the lowermost foot member of the fixed flight of steps, toggle lQYQlZ'S connecting the free ends of the rise and foot members of the folding step, an operating lever pivoted on said platform and connections between said operating lever and the pivotal connection between the toggle levers and the pivotal connection between the rise and foot m-en'ibers of the folding step whereby the oscillation of said lever will more the pivotal connection between said toggle levers and between the rise and foot members of the folding step toward and away from the fixed steps and effect the folding and unfolding of said folding step.

2. In a folding car step the combination of a platform, a fixed flight of steps leading therefrom, a folding step disposed at the lower end of said fixed flight of steps having its rise and foot members pivotally connected to each other and its rise member piv otally connected to the lowermost foot member of the fixed flight of steps, toggle levers connecting the free ends of the rise and foot members of the folding step, a rod disposed beneath the fixed flight of steps, connections between. said rod and the pivotal connection of said toggle levers, connections between said rod and the pivotal connections of the rise and foot members of the folding steps. an operating lever mounted on said platform, a connection between said (merating lever and said rod. and a connection between said 'ope'ating lever and the pivotal connections of the rise and foot members of the folding step.

in testimony whereof, I atlix my signatn're. in the presence. of two witnesses.

CHARLES E. SHORT. Witnesses:

L. H. DAME, M. R. MILLER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, 1). '0. 

